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Luke Hunt

Luke Hunt is a Southeast Asia correspondent for The Diplomat. He has spent three decades working in the region and produces the Beyond the Mekong podcast. He can be followed on Patreon and X – formerly Twitter.

He served as bureau chief for Agence France-Presse in Cambodia and in Afghanistan under Taliban occupation – where he was commended by the United Nations for the “best and most insightful” coverage of the Afghan civil war. Hunt also covered the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Global War on Terrorism that followed, specializing in Islamic militancy.

Throughout the 2010s, Hunt focused on civil conflict and uprisings from the Middle East to East Asia and as an adjunct professor wrote the course War, Media & International Relations for Pannasastra University in Cambodia. He is the author of the “Punji Trap” and co-author of “Barings Lost” and is the recipient of several awards including the Hong Kong Human Rights Press Awards, Society of Publishers in Asia, and the World Association of Newspapers.

Follow him on X at @lukeanthonyhunt.

Posts by Luke Hunt

May 02, 2014

Brunei Imposes Sharia Law

By Luke Hunt

The country goes ‘back to the Dark Ages’ in a move that has sparked widespread international criticism.

April 30, 2014

Malaysian Press Selective in Reporting Obama’s Remarks

By Luke Hunt

A compliant press hears only what it wants to hear during the US president’s recent visit.

April 25, 2014

Guns, Courts and Dirty Politics Puts Thailand Back on Edge

By Luke Hunt

The killing of an activist adds to tensions in a country that some believe is sliding towards civil war.

April 23, 2014

Amid Sharp Criticism, Brunei Delays Launch of Sharia Law

By Luke Hunt

Officials nonetheless remain committed to introducing the harsh penalties.

April 20, 2014

Baptisms in Doubt as Brunei Readies for Sharia Law

By Luke Hunt

A Catholic priest warns that Baptisms would have to cease under the new laws.

April 16, 2014

Vietnam Frees Some Dissidents Amid TPP Trade Talks

By Luke Hunt

With an eye on a TPP trade deal, Vietnam releases some high profile writers and activists.

April 11, 2014

Jokowi Still Favorite to Be Indonesia's Next President

By Luke Hunt

His party underperformed in legislative polls this week, but the Jakarta governor is still the frontrunner for the presidency.

April 08, 2014

Khmer Rouge Tribunal Gears Up for Next Round

By Luke Hunt

Hearings in the next case against surviving leaders of the Pol Pot regime are expected to begin later this year.

April 07, 2014

Cambodia Leads Doubts Over AEC

By Luke Hunt

Hopes that the ASEAN Economic Community will be ready to launch on time look increasingly ambitious.

April 01, 2014

ICJ Orders an End to Whaling in Southern Ocean

By Luke Hunt

Japan promises to comply with a ruling that found its annual whale hunt to be illegal.

April 01, 2014

Politicians and Corporates Ensure Acrid Haze Returns

By Luke Hunt

Despite lawsuits and stiff penalties, Southeast Asia’s fires continue to burn.

March 27, 2014

ANZ Sees Further Restructuring of ASEAN Businesses

By Luke Hunt

The Australian bank wants to cut ties with Cambodia’s Royal Group ahead of AEC launch.